Cable harness production apparatus



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United States Patent O 3,163,926 CABLE HAlLAJESS PRODUCHQN APPARATUS Edward W. Gray, Galion, (Ethic, assigner to North Eisctric Company, Galion, hio, a corporation of @bio Filed `ian. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 252,472 6 tiaixns. (Ci. 29-203) The present invention relates to a cable harness making apparatus.

In the production of cable harnesses, a number of individual wires are laid or strung, usually one by one, in dierent paths along a series of pins or the like on a lacing board or similar base. The differences in the paths provide loops or the like projecting from the wires at predetermined points therealong to serve as leads in use of the harness for making connections in or between electrical apparatus. This Stringing or laying of the Wires along the pegs or pins is a manual operation, since no device has been developed to lay the wires along the individual paths that have been determined therefor in accordance with the application for which the particular harness is intended and designed. The paths of the various wires are usually shown on a paper or card, commonly termed a running list, by indicating thereon the pins about which a wire, identified by the coloring of its insulation, is to be passed or looped to provide the desired leads. The individual pins are designated by means of a code, commonly employing numbers or letters or a cornbination of numbers and letters. The operator selects the Wires to be laid by reference to the running list, laying each wire according to the path indication given in the running list before going on to the next Wire, and so on until all of the wires of a given harness have been strung or laid. The Wires are then bound into a bundle by suitable ties lor lacing to constitute the body of the harness. Because the operator must look back and forth between the running list and the wire and board to determine rst where the wire is to run and then to place the wire along the pins, the harness-forming operation is slowed. Worse, errors frequently occur which are not detected until testing of the harness, resulting in Waste of materials and increased costs.

By the present invention, apparatus is provided which indicates directly on the base or board the path of each Wire. This is accomplished by illumination of selected pins to define the path of the particular wire. Because the operator need only pass the wire about the illuminated pins, and can look at the wire and pins uninterruptedly while laying the wire, without Constant diversion of attention to a running list, the wires are strung speedily and with very few errors. The rate of production is thus brought substantially to maximum. The illumination of the pins selected to indicate or define the path for a given Wire is by means of suitable electric bulbs or lamps associated with the pins. Each of the lamps is disposed in an individual circuit including a pair of contacts or terminals normally -biased to circuit-closing condition, and adapted to be `separated by a strip or sheet of suitable insulating material which thus constitutes a circuit control means. Apertures are provided in the sheet or strip yto allow selected lamp circuits to be closed, thus lighting the lamps associated with the selected pins and providing the indication of the path along which the Wire is to lie.

The faster production resulting from the invention considerably reduces the labor cost per unit, which is still further lowered by the great decrease in errors, resulting in minimization of wastage of labor and of material on defective harnesses. The costs of inspection and testing are also reduced very appreciably by the'decrease in percentage of errors. A further saving is brought about by the fact that the apertured control means may be prepared directly in accordance with the desired Wire paths,1

ICC

without the need for a running list, which thus is elimi# nated.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for the production of cable harnesses which greatly speeds and facilitates the making of such harnesses.

Another object is the provision of cable harness production apparatus which provides a direct indication of the path of each cable Wire by the means along which the wire is laid.

Another object is the provision of cable harness making apparatus which provides directly thereon an indication of the path of each cable Wire by means of illumination of supporting means for the cable wires.

Another object is the provision of cable harness making apparatus employing illuminable cable wire supporting means to deine the paths of the wires selectively actuated by control means in accordance with the paths of the respective Wires.

A further object is the provision `of cable harness making apparatus which eliminates the running list.

Another object is the provision of cable harness production apparatus which indicates directly thereon the respective wire paths to allow uninterrupted and undivided attention of the operator to the Stringing `of the wires.

It is also an object of the invention to provide cable harness making apparatus which results in faster production and fewer errors and consequent reduction of labor costs, in reduced testing costs, and in savings in provision of means for guiding the laying of the cable wires.

Another object is the provision of cable harness making apparatus permitting ready checking of the correctness of each wire before Stringing of the next wire.

Another object is the provision of a novel and improved method of producing cable harnesses. Y

Other and further objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:V

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic front elevational view of cable harness making apparatus according to the present invention;

FGURE 2 is a diagrammatic view,rpartly in plan and partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, illustrating the circuit arrangement;

FGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the circuit terminal arrangement and circuit control means illustrated infFlGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View taken substantially as indicated by the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3; and

FGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially as indicated by the line 5 5 of Elf"- URE 3. j

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus according to the invention is illustrated as comprising a lacing board 10 which serves as a base on which are mounted a number of wire-supporting pins generally indicated as 11.

Each of the pins comprises a core 12 of suitable ligbtl conducting or transmitting material, such as a transparent acrylic resin sold under the trademark Lucite, for ex-` ample. T he core i?, is surrounded by and retained in a sleeve or tube 13 of metal or other suitable wear-resisting material, which shields the core against abrasion and wear. As best shown in FIGURE 2, one end of the core 12 preferably projects slightly from the adjacent end of the sleeve or tube 13, the other end of which is mounted on the board it?, as by reception in a suitable aperture formed in the board. The pins may be secured to the board by a frictional fit in such apertures, or l-by any suitable fastening means. The pins are shown as extending partially into but not fully throughthe apertures,

Patented Jan. 5, i965 defining with the rearward portion of each aperture a recess 14 which may shieldingly accommodate an electric lamp or other illuminating means. Any desired number of pins 11 may be used, arranged on the board in any desired manner. In the present case, sixteen of the pins 11 are provided, arranged in four groups of four, substantially on a straight horizontal line, each group being spaced slightly from the next. Adjacent to, but spaced from each of the groups of pins 11 is a pin 15, in the present case being illustrated as centered relative to the adjacent group and spaced an appreciable distance therebelow, mounted in any suitable manner. The pins 15 are shown as formed of a single piece of any suitable material, although, if desired, they may be of the same construction as the pins 11.

Suitably mounted on the rear of the board are a number of small electric light bulbs or lamps 16, such as grain-of-Wheat lamps, one for each of the pins 11, each arranged to cast light rays directly against the adjacent end of the pin core 12, as by being disposed in the shielding recess 14 associated with the pin. The arrangement of the lamps 16, shielding recesses 14, and cores 12, is such that only the light from its adjacent or associated lamp 16 can fall upon a particular core 12, and not light from any other of the lamps. This will be clearly evident from the illustration in FIGURE 2, particularly at the left-hand portion thereof. Each of the lamps 16 is individually and selectively illuminable from a suitable source of electricity, not shown, through a circuit including a pair of main conductors 17 and 18. One of these conductors, as 18, is common to all of the lamps, each of which has one contact connected to thisconductor, as indicated in FIGURE 2, by branch lines 19. A plurality of branch lines 26 extend from the other main conductor 17 each to a bus bar 21 or like conductor, each of which has suitably secured thereon in conductive relationa plurality of spring terminals or contacts 22, each biased by its resilience toward engagement with a fixed terminal or contact 23 mounted in a plate 2d of suitable insulating material and connected by an individual conductor 25 to the other terminal or contact of one of the lamps. In the present instance, the plate 24 is illustrated as disposed below and parallel to the bus bars.

The bus bars 21 are shown as three in number, extending parallel to each other in suitably spaced relation. The first two bus bars 21 at the left in FIGURES 2 and 3 each carry eight of the resilient contacts or terminals 22, in the lamp circuits of two of the groups of pins 11. Thus, the four resilient terminals 22 mounted on the lefthand bus bar 2l at the upper portion thereof as viewed in FIGURE 3 correspond to the group of pins at the left end of FIGURES 1 and 2, and the four resilient contacts mounted on the lower portion of this bus bar as viewed in the figure, with their associated fixed contacts 23, correspond to the group of pins 11 mounted next to the right of the rst group. Similarly, on the next bus bar to the right in FIGURE 3, the four spring contacts 22 at the upper portion of the bar as illustrated, and the four at the lower portion of the bar, each with the corresponding fixed contact 23, are respectively in the circuits of the lamps 16 of the third and fourth groups of pins 11 mounted on the board 1t?, counting from the left end of the board as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2. The contacts or terminals 22 and 23 at the extreme lleft of FIGURE 4 correspond to the first, or leftmost, pin 11 of the first group of pins on the base or lacing board 10, the third set of terminals 22 and 23 from the left in FIGURE 4 correspond to the third pin of the first group, and so on, the fifth pair of terminals controlling the circuit of the lamp for the first pin of the second group, and the pair of terminals22 and 23 at the extreme right of FIGURE 4 controlling the circuit of the lamp for the fourth pin of the second group. The relationship between the terminals associated with the second bus bar 21 to the lamps and pins of the third and fourth groups is similar. It is to be understood that the arrangement as disclosed, while an orderly and logical one, may be replaced by any other desired arrangement, so long as the pair of circuitclosing terminals or contacts 22 and 23 corresponding to or associated with each of the illuminable pins is definitely known, that is, if it is known which set of contacts corresponds to which pm.

It will be apparent that by reason of the bias of the contacts or terminals 22 into engagement with the terminals 23, all of the lamps would be lighted, because all of the lamp circuits would be closed, if means were not provided to avoid this. The invention provides lamp circuit control means which effects opening of the circuits of the lamps 16 which it is not desired to have lighted, and closing of the circuits of the lamps associated with the pins which are to be illuminated to indicate that the wire is to pass thereabout, thus defining the path to be followed by the Wire. The selective opening and closing of the several lamp circuits for each Wire path to be indicated yby the pins is accomplished in the present instance by control means in the form of a card 26 of paperboard which is readily insertable between the resilient contacts 22 and the insulating plate 24 and the fixed contacts or terminals 23 carried thereby. Separation of the terminals 22 and 23 of the several sets by the interposition of the card 26 therebetween of course causes the lamp circuits to be opened. Selected pairs of these contacts, however, corresponding to the pins 11 selected for illumination to define a particular wire path, are brought into contacting engagement to close `the respective selected lamp circuits by means of apertures 27 formed in the card at locations corresponding to the locations of the pairs of terminals of the selected lamp circuits. The size of each aperture 27 is such as to allow the spring contact 22 below which it is disposed to engage in good conductive relation with the associated fixed contact or terminal 23 below the aperture, by reason of the resilience of the contact 22, as clearly shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5. A different circuit control card 26 is employed'for each different wire path to be indicated by illumination of the pins 11. The pattern, or location, or the apertures 27 on any particular card is provided in accordance with the desired path of the corresponding wire, as determined directly from the data reflecting the requirements of the cable harness, without any necessity for preparation of a running list, as required by prior practice in the art. The cards 26 thus eliminate and replace the running list. A strip or tape of paper or the like may be used instead of the cards 26. A roll of paper tape may carry in succession the plurality of pathdefining patterns or groups of apertures required for Stringing a particular cable harness. Each portion of the tape bearing such a pattern or group corresponds to a card 26 and constitutes a separate circuit control means despite its being part of a continuous strip instead of a separate member. Other material than paper or paperboard may be employed for the control means, such as suitable plastic material.

The wires of which a cable harness is to be formed may suitably be supplied from reels (not shown) mounted adjacent the lbase or lacing board 10, with each wire passed from front to rear through a suitable aperture 28 provided in the board so that an end thereof is conveniently disposed for graspingV by the operator when desired. In the presentV instance, five wires, BL, G, R, S, and W, are shown, although it will be understood that any desired number of wires may be provided. Referring particularly to FIGUREVl, itrwill be seen that the third pin 11 in the first group, the fourth pin in the second group, and the fourth pin in the fourth group, are illuminated. Assuming that the wire G is the one to be laid or strung along the path indicated by the illuminated pins, the operator grasps `the end of this wire and loops it about the pin 15 adjacent the 'rst group of pins 11, drawing suicient wire from the supply of the wire G for the purpose, and then passes the Wire around or past the illuminated pin in the iirst group, and over the succeeding pins to the right until the fourth pin of the second group is reached, the wire being then bent around this illuminated pin and about the pin 15 associated with 'e second group of pins 11, and back between the third and fourth pins of the group, to include the fourth pin and the pin 15 in a single loop of the wire. The wire is carried on over the third group of plus 11, as well as the fourth group until the illuminated fourth pin thereof is reached, and is then passed or bent around the fourth pin and down to be looped or wound about the pin 15 associated with the fourth group of pins 11, after which the wire may be severed between the pin 15 and the aperture 2S.

A card 26 apertured to provide the lighted pin indication of the path for the second wire is then substituted for the card Z6 employed for the lirst wire path, and the second wire is then disposed about and along the pins 11 and 15 in accordance with the indication provided by the illuminated pins 11, and so on, until all of the wires comprising the particular cable harness have been strung or laid along their respective paths. The bundle of'wires is then bound together, and another similar harness may be then produced by repeating the successive insertion of the cards 26 between the pairs of terminals 22 and 23 and disposing the successive wires in the respective paths indicated by the illuminated pins 11 under the control of the corresponding card 26. It will be appreciated that while the pins 15 in the illustrated embodiment are shown as of any suitable material, and with no provision for illumination thereof, they may, if desired, be of the same construction as the pins 11, and arranged to be illuminated by an electric lamp having a circuit controlled by the card 26 through terminal pairs 22 and 23, in the same manner as the pins 11. In such case, the pins 15 are illuminated or not, as appropriate for any particular wire path indication.

Means indicating the particular wire or wires to be disposed along a path indicated by the pins are provided on the board 1i), so that the operator may know in each case which is the Wire to be used. Such wire-indicating means, generally designated 30, are illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2 adjacent the right-hand end of the lboard 10. While the indicating means for all of the wires are preferably uniform, they may be of different types or forms, and for purposes of illustration three different forms are shown. Two of the indicators, those for the wires R and G, disposed at the left end of the horizontal row of indicators, are disclosed as in the form of illuminable pins 31 substantially identical to the pins 11, each comprising a light-transmitting core 12 and a protecting sleeve or tube 13, and having a lamp 16 mounted at the rear end thereof, as in the case of the pins 11. The next two indicators, to the right of the pins 31, for the wires BL and S, comprise suitable electric bulbs or lamps 32 mounted on the board 1G to throw light forwardly each through a separate aperture 33 extending through the board. A plate or strip 34 of translucent material, such as a suitable glass or plastic, is secured over the forward end of each aperture 33. A single strip 34 is employed to cover both of the apertures 33, although individual plates or strips might be used if desired. The indicator for the wire W, at the extreme right of the iive indicators, comprises a suitable electric lamp 35 mounted on the front of the board 19 in any suitable manner. The lamps 16 of the pins 31, and the lamps 32 and 35 are each connected by a conductor 19 to the common conductor 13, and by conductors 25 to individual ixed contacts 23 with which are engageable the resilient contacts or terminals 22 carried by a bus bar 21 connected to the other main conductor 17. Thus, all oi' the lamps may be lighted by closing of their respective' circuits through particular pairs of terminals 22 and 23, in the same manner as the lamps 16 of the pins 11. The spring contacts 22 of the tive lamps of the wireindicating means are shown as mounted `on a third bus -bar 21, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. As shown in FIGURE 3, an aperture 27 in the card 26 is located to allow engagement of the pair of terminals controlling the lamp 16 of the pin 31 associated with the wire G, in this instance the second from the left in the row of indicating means 36. Each of the indicating means 30 is shown as located directly above the aperture 2S pro vided in the board 10 for the corresponding wire, but it will be obvious that it might-be otherwise arranged adjacent the corresponding wire.

When' one or more of the indicating means 30 is illuminated, it signifies that the wire adjacent to which a particular indicator is mounted is one to be strung along the path defined by selectively illuminated pins 11, or 11 and 15, as thevcase may be. When the indicators 30 are disposed in such adjacency to the respective wires that no confusion or mistake as to which wire is intended can occur, no further means for identifying the Wires are needed. As a precaution, however, suitable indicia may be employed in connection with the indicators to preclude any possibility of confusion. When the wires are supplied otherwise than as described hereinabove, and are not passed through apertures in the board, adjacency of the indicators 30 to the respective wires is'irnpractical, and in such case some additional indicia to identify the particular wire indicated by a particular indicator 30 must be employed. One possible manner of achieving this is to employ lamps colored in accordance with the covering insulation of the corresponding wire, or to provide translucent or transparent means of the appropriate color to screen the several lamps, and show the particular color when the associated lamp is lighted. Suchmeans, however, may encounter diculty in presenting a clear indication of the Wire insulation coloring, particularly when such coloring involves a combination of colors, as iscomrnon in the art. Accordingly, a preferably manner of providing additional indicia to identify the various wires corresponding to the different indicators 36 is simply to employ the names of the colors of the wire insulation, as indicated at 36 in FIGURE l. As there shown, the words red, green, black, slate, and white are applied immediately adjacent the indicators. In the case of the illuminable pins 31, and the lamp 35, the corresponding color name is appliedV immediately adjacent thereto, on the board 10, while in the case of the indicators for the wires BL and S the words black and slate are applied to the translucent strip 34. Other indicia identifying the'particular wire signified by each of the indicators 30 may, of course,`be employed. Regardless of the particular type or style of indicia 36 utilized, however, the indicationor identification provided thereby allows location of the indicating means at any convenient or desired position on or adjacent the board 10, without regard to the dispositions of the actual wires indicated thereby.

In some cases, two Wires follow identical paths, and therefore may be handled simultaneously by the operator. In such case, of course, two of the wire-indicating means 39 would be illuminated to indicate the two wires to be laid or strung at the same time. To prevent the possibility of the operator overlooking one of thepilluminated indicating means', an illuminable indicator is provided which when illuminated alerts the operator to the fact that two wires are to be handled simultaneously. The indicator for this purpose, generally indicated at 37, may take any suitable form, but isshown as comprising an electric lamp 38 mounted on the front of the board lil, and substantially identical to the lamp 35 of the indicating means for the wire W. The lamp 38 is connected by means of conductors 19 and 25 in a circuit fand connected to the branch conductors A19 and 25.

7. substantially similar to those of the other lamps, which includes a pair of terminals 22 and 23 shown in FIGURE 3 as in circuit relation with the third bus bar 21 in spaced relation from the pair-sof contacts or terminals 22 and 23 for the five-wire indicating means. that more than two wires at a time may be strung simultaneously, additional means similar to the two-wire indicator 37 may be provided, or the indicator 37 may be employed to alert the operator whenever a plurality of wires is to `be handled at the same time. Y

It is not essential that the two-wire indicator 37 have any indicia associated therewith, since its significance when illuminated may be explained and understood without the need for application of any explanatory legend thereto. In the present case, however, by way of illustration, indicia 39 is shown as applied to the board adja.

cent the indicator 37, consisting of the words Two Wires, although any other suitable indication might be used, such as a more general wording indicating a plurality of wires.

As is known in the art, the series of pins 11 and 15 may be `duplicated on the board to allow two cable harnesses to be produced at one time, the wire being passed about the pins of one series and then without interruption about the pins of the other series in' accordance with the path indications provided thereby, the wire thereafter being severed between the two series of pins. A single `card 26 or similar insulating or circuit control means may be employed to effect illumination of the selected pins of the two series to indicate duplicate wire paths, it being necessary only to extend the lamp circuit of each of the illuminable pins of one series to include in series circuit relation the corresponding pin of the duplicate series. Alternatively, of course, the correspond- `ing lamps of the illuminable pins of both pin series may be connected in parallel circuit relation, each pair of corresponding lamps being connected in the lamp circuit through the same pair. or set of contacts or terminals 22 and 23.

It will be understood that when duplicate series of the path-indicating pins are employed, it is not necessary to duplicate the wire-indicating means 30, nor the two-wire indicator 37. When a wire has been laid or strung, the correctness of its position and arrangement is easily andquickly checked and determined merely by visual inspection to see that it conforms to the path shown by the illuminated pins. Any error so detected may readily be corrected, since the illuminated pins provide a clear and definite guide, and the circuit control means then changed to cause indication of the path of the next wire to be strung. This is a further aspect of the invention contributing to elimination of errors in the production of cable harnesses.

The projecting end portion of each light-transmitting core 12 of each illuminable pin is preferably provided with a slightly roughened or satin finish, resulting in a Vbrighter and more noticeable illumination of the head of the pin upon lighting o f the associated lamp than is the case when the end of the core is left with a perfectly smooth finish.

The pins may be illuminated otherwise than by lamps at the bases thereof, with the light therefrom transmitted to the heads of the pins by suitable material. One simple Way of accomplishing this is to employ small lamps, such as grain-of-wheat lamps, Vmounted in, on, or otherwise adjacent the heads of the pins in any suitable manner, The light-transmitting material is then made unnecessary, and the construction and arrangement are simplified.

The pins might be formed substantially entirely of suitable light-transmitting material if such material had appropriate wearing properties, or light-transmitting ma- -terial might be incorporated in or employed with each of the pins otherwise than as specifically disclosed, and

If it is expected.

g serve to provide any illuminated pin. Furthermore, the light-transmitting material might be dispensed with otherwise than by mounting a lamp in the head of the pin, as by mounting adjacent the base of the pin a lamp or other suitable illuminating means visible from-the front of the lacing board 10.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereof disclosed herein, since many modifications of and changes in the disclosed structure may be made in accordance with the inventive concept without departing from the scope thereof. It is therefore not intended that the invention be limited otherwise than as required by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Apparatus for making a cable harness of a plurality of wires, comprising a base, a plurality of pins mounted on said base in projecting relation arranged in predetermined order, an electric lamp mounted adjacent each of said pins, means defining a circuit through each lamp including a pair of terminals biased toward contacting engagement to close said lamp circuit, means for connecting a source of electricity in each of said lamp circuits, and a plurality of circuit control means each of insulating material in sheet-like form and each engageable between the terminals of lamp circuits to effect open condition of the circuits, each of said control means having apertures therein located to permit contact of the terminals of selected terminal pairs for closing the corresponding lamp circuits to light at least certain of said lamps to illuminate the pin adjacent each lighted lamp for indicating the path along the pins to be followed by the indicated wire or wires, said plurality of control means being successively disposable between the terminals for guiding the successive laying of wires in the harness.

2. Apparatus for making a cable harness of a plurality of Wires, comprising a base, a plurality of pins mounted on said base in projectingy relation, an electric lamp mounted adjacent each of said pins, means defining a circuit through each lamp including a pair of terminals biased toward contacting engagement to close said lamp circuit, means for connecting a source of electricity in each of said lamp circuits, and circuit control means of insulating material in sheet-like form engageable between the terminals to effect open condition of the lamp circuits, said control means having apertures therein predeterminedly located to permit contact of the terminals of selected terminal pairs for closing the corresponding lamp circuits to light at least certain of said lamps to illuminate the pin adjacent each lighted lamp for indicating the path along the pins to be followed by an indicated wire. Y

3. Apparatus for making a cable harness of a plurality of wires, comprising a base, a plurality of pins mounted on said base in projecting relation, an electric lamp carried adjacent each of said pins, means defining a circuit through each lamp including a pair ofl terminals biased toward circuit-closing engagement to close said lamp circuit, means for connecting a source of electricity in each of said lamp circuits, and circuit control means of insulating material in sheet-like form engageable between the terminals to effect open condition of the lamp circuits, said control means having apertures therein permitting contact of the terminals of selected terminal pairs for closing the corresponding lamp circuits to light at least certain of said lamps for illumination of the pins adjacent thereto to indicate the path along the pins to be followed by a wire.

4. Apparatus for making a cable harness of a plurality of wires, comprising a base, a plurality of wire-supporting pins on said base, means associated with each of vsaid pins for illumination thereof comprising an electric lamp, means defining a circuit through each lamp including a pair of contacts operative to close the circuit, means for connecting a source of electricity in each of said lamp circuits, and insulation means disposable between the contacts of said pairs of contacts and having apertures therethrough selectively located for selective completion of lamp circuits therethrough by selectively operating contact pairs.

5. Apparatus for making a cable harness of a plurality of Wires, comprising a base, a plurality of pins mounted on said base arranged in predetermined order, means for illuminating each of said pins comprising an electric lamp adjacent the pin, means defining a circuit through each lamp including switch means biased toward closed condition to close said lamp circuit, means for connecting a source of electricity in each of said lamp circuits, and

Acircuit control means of insulating material engageable With said switch means to effect open condition of the circuits, said control means including means permitting closing of selected switch means for closing the corresponding lamp circuits to light at least certain of said lamps to illuminate the pins adjacent thereto for indicating the path along the pins to be followed by a particular Wire.

' 6. Apparatus for making a cable harness of a plurality of Wires, comprising a base, a plurality of pins mounted 'v on said base, means for illuminating each of said pins comprising an electric lamp closely associated With each pin, means defining a circuit through each lamp including switch means biased to close said lamp circuit, means for connecting a source of electricity in each of said lamp circuits, and circuit control means engageable with said switch means to eiect open condition of the lamp circuits and including means for effecting closing of selected lamp circuits through the switch means thereof toV light at least certain of saidvlamps to illuminate the pin adjacent each for indicating the path along the pins to be followed by a particular wire.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,738,710 Jones Dec. 10, 1929 2,487,318 Elliott Nov. 8, 1949 2,688,741 Saltarelli Sept. 4, 1954 2,805,471 Lowden Sept. 10,1957 

1. APPARATUS FOR MAKING A CABLE HARNESS OF A PLURALITY OF WIRES, COMPRISING A BASE, A PLURALITY OF PINS MOUNTED ON SAID BADE IN PROJECTING RELATION ARRANGED IN PREDETERMINED ORDER, AN ELECTRIC LAMP MOUNTED ADJACENT EACH OF SAID PINS, MEANS DEFINING A CIRCUIT THROUGH EACH LAMP INCLUDING A PAIR OF TERMINALS BIASED TOWARD CONTACTING ENGAGEMENT TO CLOSE SAID LAMP CIRCUIT, MEANS FOR CONNECTING A SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY IN EACH OF SAID LAMP CIRCUITS, AND A PLURALITY OF CIRCUIT CONTROL MEANS EACH OF INSULATING MATERIAL IN SHEET-LIKE FROM AND EACH ENGAGEABLE BETWEEN THE TERMINALS OF LAMP CIRCUITS TO EFFECT OPEN CONDITION OF THE CIRCUITS, EAC OF SAID CONTROL MEANS HAVING APERTURES THEREIN LOCATED TO PERMIT CONTACT OF THE TERMINALS OF SELECTED TERMINAL PAIRS FOR CLOSING THE CORRESPONDING LAMP CIRCUITS TO LIGHT AT LEAST CERTAIN OF SAID LAMPS TO ILLUMINATE THE PIN ADJACENT EACH LIGHTED LAMP FOR INDICATING THE PATH ALONG THE PINS TO BE FOLLOWED BY THE INDICATED WIRE OR WIRES, SAID PLURALITY OF CONTROL MEANS BEING SUCCESSIVELY DISPOSABLE BETWEEN THE TERMINALS FOR GUIDING THE SUCCESSIVE LAYER OF WIRES IN THE HARNESS. 